Summer Reading and Playing

Unfortunately, the months of March thru May were insane.  I always say that but, really!  Work projects were at a height and the lake project required a lot of time and efforts.  I made a commitment that I would quit some activities for the summer and slow down our life.  My parenting involved too much, "you go do this while mommy finishes working" or "hurry and get here and do your homework so we can go here."  Too much.

We are in our third week of summer and although our live remains active (it always will), we've slowed down immensely, played at home a ton, and spent quality time reading.

One of my favorite bloggers, Do Say Give, created a classical reading summer book club and it has been a turning point in our family.  The book club centers around classic books that inspire imaginations, challenge the children with better vocabulary and syntax, and promote wholistic values and ideals.  The kids can't believe their luck when I stop in the afternoon and say, "Let's read a couple books!"  For months, I've been reading the shortest book possible at bedtime.

The books have pushed the kids into content that I would not have expected them to enjoy.  They rate the book with a thumbs up, thumbs down, or smiley face.  Many reads are wildly thumbs up or smiley face and our together time has been invaluable.  Sometimes Palmer reads on his own, but I want the point of this summer to be focusing on each other so I am more often reading together to both kids.  The dynamic creates calmness in our home and also has inspired new ideas.  Rick and I were recently invited upstairs and treated to four plays that the kids had created, each with dialogue and costume changes.

 

Serious Davy Crockett Palmer. 

Little sisters doing some poolside reading while the older siblings are in a swim meet.

Overall, our days have centered around day camps, VBS, swim team, swim time, and at-home playing while I continue to work part-time.  This might be the first time that summer hasn't seemed overwhelming as I try to juggle kids and work at home.  Rick has had a lighter travel schedule and we've had many happy evenings up at the pool together as a family.  Happy thoughts to more summer time of the same!

-Bethany